12-year-old girl has liposuction

**buttmunch** · November 6th, 2006, 09:53 AM

Nov. 6, 2006 — - Childhood can be a tough place for an overweight kid as other children can be brutal with cruel words, laughter and cold stares.

In a documentary called, "Fat Like Me," obese kids talked about the pain experienced.

One boy said, "I'm like the prey. People come after me because I'm fat."

"I eat and I feel worse. And then, I gain weight. And then, I keep eating," said another overweight girl in the film.

Brooke Bates, of Austin, Tex., has struggled with her weight since early childhood, gaining the nickname, "Big Brooke."

She described herself as a giant balloon, one that was ever expanding, and none of the countless diets she tried seemed to make any difference.

Hoping to 'Look a Little a Little Normal'

By age 11, Brooke weighed 180 pounds; a year later, at 5-foot-5, she rose to a shocking 220 pounds, and her doctors classified her as morbidly obese.

Feeling helpless and isolated Brooke needed a radical approach. She and her family considered gastric bypass but feared it was too risky.

After watching a documentary on weight loss, 12-year-old Brooke decided on liposuction, a procedure thought to sculpt an imperfect body, not treat obesity.

She went to see Dr. Robert Ersek, a leading plastic surgeon in Austin. At first he was opposed to the idea.

"I don't think that every 12-year-old should come in and get a few pounds taken off by liposuction, but in certain cases where all else has failed it can change their life to be a normal person," Ersek said.

Brooke's interview with Ersek before surgery shed light on her fears and her hopes for a normal future.

"Maybe If I could do it I would look a little normal," she told him.

Not only was the extra weight affecting Brooke's self-esteem, but it was seriously affecting her health. Her mother, Cindy, said that Brooke's blood pressure was sky high, and doctors said she was at risk for a stroke.

Ersek agreed to go through with the procedure, and removed 35 pounds of fat and fluid from her body. Today, Brooke weighs 153 pounds. She and her family called the surgery a miracle.

"It just changed my life in so many ways," Brooke said today on "Good Morning America."

'Dangerous Precedent'

But many doctors question whether serious cosmetic surgery like liposuction is wise for such a young person.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 3,000 people under age 18 underwent liposuction last year.

Dr. Susan Manzi of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said that liposuction, which removes significant amounts of fluid and fat from the body at once, is risky and controversial for both young people and adults.

"It [liposuction] can lead to complications such as infection or bleeding, or even shock, because so much fluid is removed," Manzi said. "But in addition to that, a lot of the experts question the ability for a 12-year-old to fully comprehend the risks and benefits of the types of the surgeries ... and the idea that there has to be major lifestyle changes to allow this to be permanent."

Another doctor from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center calls the surgery a "dangerous precedent."

"We as a society need to reach our children at a young age and educate them on the benefits of exercise and wise eating habits," said Dr. Susan Obagi. "I do not want to see this become a trend."

"I would like to see what the patient looks like after a few more years," Obagi continued. "As those of us who perform liposuction know, patients with bad eating habits will oftentimes eat themselves into a fatter body again."
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/sto...2631490&page=1

This is fucked up. I'm sure the parents 'did everything they could' but did that include only buying healthy meals, taking her to a nutritionist who could explain what was going on? Participate in some sort of activity with her that would get her ass moving? I think this is incredible and although I might be being judgemental, I can't believe that liposuction was the only option left. Hey kid, put down the deep fried drumstick, put on your running shoes and get out side.

**Laurent** · November 6th, 2006, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by buttmunch

I think this is incredible and although I might be being judgemental, I can't believe that liposuction was the only option left.

Maybe, but I agree.

I feel sympathy for her, but nowhere does it say she tried exercise and healthy eating before getting lipo and that's ridiculous. I'm sure lipo is needed in some instances, but I can't believe it's the absolute last resort for a 12 year old!

**buttmunch** · November 6th, 2006, 10:12 AM

Exactly. Why didn't they have her on a healthy eating/exercise program? It doesn't even sound like it was considered. Another great message being sent out to kids: get fat and we'll suck the fat off you...no worries about those ten extra slices of pizza and 3 years spent in front of the telly. And that isn't for those who are a bit chubby and maybe need to move more...this chick was huge.

**Grimmlok** · November 6th, 2006, 10:27 AM

Fat idiot. She should be food for wild animals because she's too lazy and spineless to stop eating like a slob and exercise.

Enroll her fat ass in swimming and make her go every night. Cook real meals with vegetables in them.

FUCK PEOPLE ARE STUPID

**BoogsBun** · November 6th, 2006, 11:47 AM

I don't do much research about liposunction, because I would never do it, so pardon my complete ignorance. But is it true, that if you had liposuction and gain weight, the fat goes to the non-liposuctioned part. Because if it is true, I would hate to see her in about 5 years (or less).

**AliceInWonderland** · November 6th, 2006, 12:36 PM

thats just lovely; her parents should be so proud of themselves for failing so miserably as people, parents, and citizens!

"I don't think that every 12-year-old should come in and get a few pounds taken off by liposuction, but in certain cases where all else has failed it can change their life to be a normal person," Ersek said.

When all else fails? When all else fails?!? She's 12 years old! I doubt you even had time to try all else lazy fuckin' animals! Give me a fuckin' break! This girl is going to have such terrible issues b/c of this I doubt she'll make it past 30 or ever be satisfied w/ anything about herself now.

**Algernon** · November 6th, 2006, 01:05 PM

I just read about this in People and supposedly they had tried diet and excercise. They showed pics of her when she was younger and she was always really really big. The parents and sister looked normal. I always wonder if some people just will be huge no matter what they do.

I worry about what she'll look like later in life.

**LynnieD** · November 6th, 2006, 01:08 PM

Wasn't this kid on Dr Phil?? I swear she was.....

**buttmunch** · November 6th, 2006, 01:10 PM

Unless they put her on a strict, nutritional diet for at least six months, combined with 30+ minutes of exercise a day, they did not try conventional methods of weightloss. I'm guessing mom and/or dad couldn't 'bear' to say no and she was probably sneaking food. This is where fat farms can come in extremely handy. There, at least she'd learn something about how she's killing herself. All she's learned here is that there are magical solutions to every problem, no matter how much you brought it on yourself.

**Aella** · November 9th, 2006, 04:29 AM

For fuck's sake, who in their right mind thinks that lipo is the best solution for a kid? And an obese one to boot? I thought the procedure wasn't reccomended for huge amounts of weight loss.

**milky*mcgee** · November 9th, 2006, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by Grimmlok

Fat idiot. She should be food for wild animals because she's too lazy and spineless to stop eating like a slob and exercise.

Enroll her fat ass in swimming and make her go every night. Cook real meals with vegetables in them.

FUCK PEOPLE ARE STUPID

I wouldn't put the blame on her. She is only 12. Her parents and that Dr. that performed the lipo are the ones that are idiots.

I wonder if insurance covered this, or if they paid out of pocket?

**Chilly Willy** · November 9th, 2006, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by milky*mcgee

I wouldn't put the blame on her. She is only 12. Her parents and that Dr. that performed the lipo are the ones that are idiots.

I wonder if insurance covered this, or if they paid out of pocket?

I was just gonna say! Way to go to blame a 12-year-old. I wonder what I would have looked like at the age of twelve if my parents had fed me Twinkies and burgers all day and never told me about a healthy diet and exercise.

Grimm, no offence, but according to your post, you would have been one the mean kids who bullied her and drove her crazy. I have a soft spot for fat kids, they break my heart.